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H. GRUSON. OPERATING MECHANISM FOR TURRET GUNS. No. 388,356. Patented Aug. 21, 188.8.

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(No Model.) 4'Sheets Sheet 2.

H. GRUSON.

OPERATING MECHANISM FOR TUR-RET GUNS.

No. 388,356. v Patented Aug. 21, I888.

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N. PETERS. Phamunm n hur, Washingmn, 0. c.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

. H. GRUSON.

OPERATING MECHANISM FOR TURRET GUNS. No. 388.356.

Patented Aug. 21, 1888.

N. Puifls. HIMu-Lllhogrzlpher, wamingmm n. C,

(No Model.)

' 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 H. GRUSON.

OPERATING MECHANISM FOR TURRET GUNS.

No. 388,356. Patented Aug. 21, 1888.

1 ret in vertical section and UNITED TATES ASSIGNOR TO THE GRUSONIVERK, OF SAME PLACE.

OPERATING MECHANlSlVl FOR TURRET-GUNS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Application filed June 25. 1857.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HERB/[ANN GRUSON, of Buckau-Magdeburg, Prussia, German Empire, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Armor-Turrets, of which the following is a specification.

The invention consists in certain features of novelty, which are hereinafter particularly pointed out in the claims, being first fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure I is a view showing the armor-turits contained parts partly in vertical section and partly in elevation. This view shows the mechanism for hoisting the gun and its carriage into firing position or for removing it therefrom. Fig. II is a view showing the armorturret in vertical central section and its contained parts partly in vertical section and partly in elevation. This view shows the mechanism for operating the gun-i. 0., changing its aim. In neither of these views is a single plane of section observed. Fig. III is a view showing one side of the turret in vertical section and its contained parts partly in vertical section and partly in elevation. This view shows the parts shown in Fig. I, the cutting-plane of one figure being at right angles to the cutting-plane of the other. Fig. IV is a horizontal section of the armor-turret and a plan view of one of the guns in place and of the hoisting apparatus, the position ofthe second gun being shown by dotted lines. Fig. V is a section on the line V V, Fig. II. Fig. VI is an axial section showing in detail the construction of the box for forming a universal connection between those portions ofthe fluid-pressure pipes which are carried by the movable portion of the turret and those portions which are fixed and connected with the accumulator or pump.

The turret is made of a number of sections, 1, cast in a chill-mold so as to have hardened outer surfaces,said sections having radial sides, so that when joined together, as shown, they will form an arch or dome and be retained to gether by their own weight. The turret is supported upon an annular base, 2, formed of sheet-iron plates bolted or riveted together. The base 2 has on its under side an annular Letters Patent No. 388,356, dated August 21, 1888.

Serial No. 242,495. (No model.)

bearing-plate, 3, preferably of the form shown in crosssection in Figs. 1, II, and III, which rests through the medium of the anti-friction rollers 6 upon a corresponding bearing-plate or track-ring, 4, supported by the masonry foundation 5. The turning of the turret is effected by acapstan, 7, whose movement is communicated througha pair of beveled pinions, 8, to a horizontal shaft, 8, the movement of the latter being communicated through beveled pinions 9 to a vertical shaft, (or shafts) 9, whose upper end is provided with a pinion, 10, gearing with an interiorlytoothed ring secured to the annular base 2 of the movable portion of the turret. To protect the base 2 of the turret, a ring-formed shield, 12, of armor-plate, is provided. These plates are cast and placed together in substantially the same manner as the plates of the turret itself.

13 represents the gun, and 14 a sliding carriage, which rests upon tracks or ways formed upon the base 15, which latter (in the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. I, III, and 1V) rests, when the gun is in operative position, as shown by full lines, upon heavy transverse beams 16, other transverse beams, 17, being provided for preventing endwise movement of the base 15 in either direction. The carriage 14 is permitted to slide upon the base 15, in order that the turret and the machinery therein contained may be relieved of the shock which would result from the recoil it the gun were mounted fixedly.

18 represents heavy beams, which extend in a direction transverse to the beams 16 and 17, or in a direction parallel'with the gun, and are supported at their ends by the base 2 of the turret.

19 represents pulleys journaled in suitable housings or boxes on the top of the beams 18, and 20 pulleys journaled in suitable housings or boxes beneath beams 21, located beneath the floor of the turret. When the gun is to be lowered from operative position to the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. I, one end of each of four (more or less) chains, 22, is secured to the base 15 at such distances apart as to enable the base to be elevated thereby without disturbing its horizontal position to any considerable extent. These chains are aring fluid under pressureinto the cylinders 26.

ranged in pairs upon opposite sides of the gun, as shown, and the free ends of the chains of each pair connected to the respective ends of a erossbeam, 23, of a wheeled truck, 24,which cross-beam is made to serve as the cross-head of a piston, 25, fitting in a eylinder,26,situated beneath the floor of the turret. One of these trucks 24 is provided for each pair of chains or cables, and a piston, 25, and cylinder 26 provided for each truck, all of said cylinders being supplied with fluid under pressure from a single pump, 27. Fluid under pressure being admitted to the cylinders, all of the pistons, trucks, &c., are elevated to the position shown by full lines in Figs. I and III, the chains 22 being thereby drawn .taut and the base 15 (together with the gun and carriage) elevated slightly, so as to relieve the transverse beams 16 of the weight. These beams are then removed and thefluid (glyeerine beingpreferred) allowedto escape from the cylinders 26, thereby permitting the pistons to descend and the trucks, the gun, 8m, to fall a distance equal to the extent of the downward movement of the piston. This will not, however, bring the gun down to the floor of the turret. The pistons having reached the bottom of theirstroke, the chains are locked or clamped in their changed positions by the devices 28, secured to the floor of the turret, so as to hold the gun, 850., suspended in 1nidair. his done, the ends of the chains are released from the clamps l 29, and the pistons again pumped up by forethe end of the piston and the annular weights placed on said saddle. The pistons being then pumped up to the position shown in Fig. II, it will be seen that the parts constitute an accumulator, the fluid in the cylinder being under a pressure proportional to the weight sustained by the piston.

31 represents the pipes forming the communication between the valve-box of the pump 27 and the aceumulator-cylinders 26, and 32a pipe forming a communication between said valve-box and the pipes for supplying the pressure-cylinders of the guns with fluid under pressure. These connections between the valve-box and the pressure-cylinder being somewhat complicated, a minute description will now be given. 7

The pipe 32 communicates directly with a bore or duct, 33, formed through a cylindrical piece of metal, 34, (hereinafter called the core.) This core is fitted snugly within a cylindrical cavity formed in a block of metal, 35, (hereinafter called the core-berg) so that the one may turn independently of the other. The upper extremity of the duct 33 terminates concentrically with the core and opposite a two-way duct, 36, whose branches communicate with pipes 37,which convey fluid under pressure to the pressure-cylinders 38, carried by the movable carriages of the respective guns. Communicating with each of the cylinders 38 is also a pipe, 39, for the escape of the pressure-fluid, which pipe communicates with a shortduct, 40, formed in the core-box 35 and terminating in an annular groove or channel, 41, formed in the interior of said box.

42 is a second duct formed in the core 34, Whose upper end opens at the side ofsaid core and at such a position as to be directly opposite the annular groove 41, the lower end of said duct being in communication with a pipe, 43, which in turn pressure reservoir or the suction side of the pump 27. Their core-box and core,constructed substantially as described, will be seen to maintain constant communication between six pipe-sections, and the capacity may be increased by simply increasing the number of ducts, &c. It will also be observed that the same resultwill be accomplished if the relative positions of the parts be reversed. The core 34 is held within the box 35 by a twopart collar, 44, which is secured by bolts or other means to the under side of the box 35, its inner periphery being received within an annular groove cut in the core. In order to prevent leakage, packingrings 45 are placed between the meeting faces of the core and its box, said rings being eontainedin grooves out either in the inner face of the box or the outer face of the core.

The details in the construction of the mechanism for causing the angle of inclination of the gun to vary according to the position of the piston which fits in the cylinder 38 are not important so far as my present invention This timethe beams 230i the trucks will come in contact with the under side of the base 15, and,the gun being thus supported directly by the pistons, the chains may now be released from the clamps 28 and dispensed with. The pistons being again allowed to descend, the truck-wheels will come to bearings upon the floor of the turret and the gun may be carried off on the trucks. To elevate a gun into operative position,these operations are of course reversed. It will be seen that the guns (two being shown in the drawings) are located to the side of the center of motion of the turret, so that the said guns may by revolving the said turret be brought successively over the pistons 25 when they are to be removed, one set of lifting apparatus being thereby rendered availablefor raising and lowering all the guns of the turret whatever may be their number. The relative positions of this lifting apparatus (consisting 'of the pump, the pressureeylindcrs, and the pistons) and the turret are more clearly shown in Fig. V.

Returning,now,to a consideration of the invention in its relation to the guns while in operative positions, I will proceed to describe the means whereby the gun is operated-i. 6., its aim changed-the chains 22 and trucks 24 being for this purpose removed, so as to be out of the way, and in place thereof a series of weights, 30, placed over each of the pistons 25. For this purpose a saddle, 30, of thepeeuliar shape shown in Fig. II, is placed over communicates with the low is concerned. The preferred arrangement for accomplishing this result is shown in Patent No. 295, 245, granted to me on March, 18, 1884; but another very efficient method is shown in Patent No. 281,643, which was granted to me as the assignee of A. Preusser on the 17th of July, 1883, to which patents reference may be had for detailed descriptions of these parts.

For the purpose of this application it is sufficient to say that the trunnions of the gun are mounted in vertically-movable boxes which are supported by a cross-head, 46, secured to the upper end of the piston which works in the cylinder 38, so that when pressure-fluid is forced into said cylinder the guns trunnions will be raised, and when said fluid is allowed to escape said trunnions will descend. The gun has sliding connection with a bar, 47, which is pivoted to the turret at a point directly beneath the porthole through which the barrel protrudes,so that the barrel turns about this point when its trunnions are elevated or depressed. All of this mechanism, as well as the mechanism for forming a sliding connection between those portion of the fluid-pipes which are affixed, respectively, to the fixed and movable portions of the carriage-,are fully described in the Patent No. 281,6i3,above referred to.

The pipes 37 and 39 are provided with coup lings 49, whereby communication with the guns pressure-cylinders may be entirely severed when it is desired to remove the gun in the manner already described, and, in order to leave other parts of the device operative, each of said pipes is provided with a stop-cock, 50, for preventing the escape of fluid when the sections of the pipes 37 and 39 are uncoupled. A cock capable of enabling the operator to admit fluid to the cylinder 38 or letting it escape therefrom at pleasure is shown in Fig. VI. 51 of which is provided with two ducts extending diametrically through it at right angles, the casing for the plug being provided at diametrically-opposite sides with ducts formingcontinuations of the pipes 37 and 39. When it is desired to elevate the trunnions of the gun, the cock is turned so that the plug intercepts the passage through the escape-pipe 39, but leaves the passage through the pipe 37 uninterrupted by reason of the coincidence therewith of one of the ports through said plug. \Vhen it is desired to lower the trunnions of the gun, the plug 51 is moved to the position shown in the drawings, the relations of the parts just described being reversed.

As shown in Fig. II, the stem of the capstan and the beveled pinion 8, secured thereto, are made hollow for the passage of the tluidpipes. The corebox and core are of course located concentrically with the center of motion of the upper part of the turret. The valve-box of the pump 27 is provided with valves suitably arranged to cut off communication with the accumulator cylinders 26 Itis simply a turn-cock, the plug when desired and establish direct communication between the pump 27 and the pressurecylinders 38 of the guns.

The base 15 of the gun-carriage consists of 0 the heavy parallel side beams or castings, which serve as tracks or ways upon which the carriage slides, and traverse-beams 15, (preferably hollow,) by which said side beams are united and held at the proper distance asunder.

The carriage 14 consists of the heavy side pieces united at bottom by a heavy casting, within which the cylinder 38 is seated, and at top by ties or braces extending over the top of the gun.

The sight-aperture through which the operator takes his observations, instead of being formed through one of the side plates of the turret, is formed in the sky-plate in such a i manner as not to materially weaken the structure. In an application now pending, Serial No. 190,501, filed February 1, 1886, I have set forth the advantages of forming the sightaperture horizontally through the sky-plate, whereby it is made to extend in a direction substantially parallel with the inner and outer faces of said plate. Access is had to this peculiarly-constructed aperture from an opening formed vertically through the sky-plate and of sufficient size to admit the head of the gunner.

Having thus described my invention, the following is what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In armor-turret, the combination, with the gnn-carriages, of a series of permanentlyarranged parallel beams and a series of laterally-arranged removable beams mounted on the parallel beams and supporting the carriages when in position for action, substantially as described.

2. The combination, in a revoluble turret having a number of guns arranged at the side of the center thereof, of a vertically-moving piston on which said guns are adapted to be placed, a cylinder formed in the bottom of the turret beneath the path of the guns, in which said piston works, and a pump for operating said piston, whereby said guns may be independently lowered below the turret and raised into operative position, substantially as de scribed.

3. The combination, with a revoluble turret having a number of guns arranged at the sides of the center thereof, of an elevator permanently located beneath the turret and the path of the guns for independently lowering the guns below the turret and raising them into position for action,said elevator having a crosshead, on which said guns are placed, and a pump for operating said elevator, substan tially as described.

4.. The combination, with a revolubleturret having provisions for a number of guns, of a vertically-moving piston permanently located beneath the path of said guns, trucks mounted on said piston, on which said guns are adapted to be placed, and a pump for operating said piston, substantially as described.

5. The combination, in an armor-turret having pressure cylinders formed in the bottom thereof, of the pistons working in said cylinders, cross-heads 23, mounted on said pistons, chains secured to said cross-heads and to the gun-carriage, said carriage-,and the pulleys located on the supporting-beams and in the bottom of the turret, over which said chains pass, substantially as described.

6. The combination, in an armor-turret, of the vertically-movable pistons having crossheads thereon, the chains connected with said cross-heads and the gun carriage, said carriage, pulleys locatec, respectively, on the gunsupporting beams and at the bottom of the turret, over which said chains pass, and a series of clamps secured to the bottom of the turret beneath said cross heads for retaining the chains in their adjusted positions, substantially as described.

7. In an armor-turret, the combination, with the vertically-moving pressure-pistonand the gun-carriage, of the pulleys mounted on the supporting-beams adjacent to said carriage, pulleys mounted in the bottom of said turret adjacent to said piston, chains connected to the upper end of said piston and to the guncarriage, and a series of removable support ing-beams upon which the carriage rests when in its elevated position, substantially as described. I

8. The combination, with the pressure-piston, the cross-head 23, the clamps 29, carried thereby,the chains 22,secured by said clamps, the pulleys 19 20, situated, respectively, above and below said crosshead, around which said chains pass, the fixed clamps 28, for holding said chains in the desired position, and the base of the gun-carriage to which said chains are attached, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination, with the pressurepiston having a cross-head thereon and the guncarriage, of the chains interposed between and having connection therewith,the pulleys 20 below said carriage, around which said chains pass, the beams 21, by which said pulleys are held down, the pulleys 19, adjacent to said carriage, around which said chains also pass, the beams 18, by which said pulleys are supported, and the clamps 28, located between the lower pulleys and the upper end of the piston, sub stantially as set forth.

10. The combination, in an armor-turret, of vertically-moving pistons having trucks secured removably on their upper ends, cylinders formed in the bottom of the turret, in which said pistons work, guns located above the pistons and adapted to be placed on said trucks, and a pump for operating said pistons, substantially as described.

11. The combination,with thegun-carriage, of the removable supports for retaining it in sides of said carriage, wheeled trucks located beneath the carriage and to which said chains are attached, pulleys located above and below said trucks, over which said chains pass, and pistons engaging said trucks, whereby the same are raised and lowered, substantially as de scribed.

12. The combination,with the gun-carriage having a cylinder thereon and a piston working in said cylinder, of a fluid-pressure cylinder located beneath the carriage, a pipe for conveying fluid under pressure from said pressure-cylinder to the cylinder on the carriage, a stationary core, and a movable corebox interposed between said cylinders for eutting off the pressure as the carriage revolves, substantially as described.

13. 'lhecombination,with the gun'carriages having cylinders thereon, pistons working in said cylinders, and a pipe through which fluid under prcssu re is supplied to said cylinders,of a stationary cylindrical core having ducts formed therein and a movable core-box havingopenings therein communicating with said ducts in the core, said core and core-box interposed between the cylinders, whereby the pressure is automatically cut off from said carriage-cylinders, substantially as described.

14. The combination,witl1 the carriage-cylinder, pressure-cylinder, and connecting-pipe, of a cylindrical core fixedly secured on said pipe, a movable core-box surrounding said core and having openings registering with ducts formed in the core, and cocks situated between the core and carriage-cylinders for cutting. off the supply from the carriagecylinders when the pipes are to be uncoupled, substantially as described.

15. The combination,with the revoluble turretand the gun mounted therein, of a pressurecylinder mounted on the carriage of said gun and moving with the same for operating said. gun, a fixed fluid-pressure cylinder formed in the bottom of the turret, a weighted piston working therein, pipes leading out from said cylinders, and auniversal connection between the pipes which are affixed to the movable and fixed portions of the turret, substantially as described.

16. The combinatiomwith the revoluble turret, the gun mounted therein, and the movable pressure-cylinder and piston for operating said gun, of the fixed fluid-pressure apparatus, pipes connecting said pressure apparatus with said cylinder, and a universal connection between the portions of the pipes which are affixed, respectively, to the movable and the fixed portions of the turret, substantially as set forth.

17. The combination,with the revoluble turret, the gun mounted therein, and the pressure-cylinder and piston carried thereby for op erating the gun, of the stationary fluid-pressure apparatus, pipes connecting said pressure apparatus and cylinder, and a capstan for reits elevated position, the chains secured to the volving the turret, the stem of the capstan be- IIO ing made hollow for the passage of the fluidpressure pipes, substantially as set forth.

18. The combination, with arevoluble turret, the gun mounted therein, and the pressure-cylinder and piston carried thereby for operating the gun, of stationary pressure apparatus and pipe for conveying fluid under pressure from the pressure apparatus to the pressure-cylinder, and a universal connection between the portions of said pipe which are connected, respectively, with the cylinder and the pressure apparatus, substantially as set forth.

19. The combination, with a revoluble turret,the gun mounted therein,and a cylinder and piston carried by said turret for operating the gun, of a stationary pressure apparatus, a pipe for conveying fluid under pressure from said apparatus to said cylinder, and a universal connection bet ween the portions of said pipe, connected, respectively, with said apparatus and cylinder, said connection being situated concentrically with the center of motion of the turret, substantially as set forth.

20. The combination,with the revoluble turret, the gun mounted therein, and the cylinder and piston carried thereby for operating the gun, of a stationary pressure apparatus, pipes connecting said apparatus and cylinder, a hollow box, and a core fitted therein so as to be capable of relative rotation, having ducts for maintaining constant communication between the pressure apparatus and cylinder, substantially as set forth.

21. The combination,with the revoluble turret carrying the gun, the cylinder and piston for operating said gun, the inlet and outlet pipes 37 39, and the core-box 35, having ducts 36 and 40, with which said pipes respectively communicate, of the core 34, having ducts 33 and42, communicating, respectively, with the duct 36 and the channel 41, the pipes 32 and 43, communicating with said ducts 33 and 42, and pressure apparatus with which said pipes communicate, substantially as set forth.

22. The combination, with the turret having more than one gun mounted removably there in and a pressure-cylinder and piston for operating each gun, of a stationary pressure apparatus having a single pipe, 32, for conveying therefrom fluid under pressure, having a separate branch communicating with each of said cylinders, each of said branches being formed in sections united by a coupling and provided with a stop-cock for preventing the escape of the pressure-fluid when the sections of the branch pipe are uncoupled, substantially as set forth.

23. The combination, with the gun-support, the cylindrical core having a duct, 33, whose inner end terminates concentrically therewith, and a duct, 42, terminating at the side of said core, of the core-box 35, having a cylindrical cavity in which said core is revolubly fitted, a duct, 36, whose inner extremity opens opposite the inner end of the duct 33, and a duct, 40, whose inner end opens opposite an annular groove, 41, all constructed and arranged to operate substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

. HERMANN GRUSON.

Witnesses:

JULIUS VON ScHUTz, EMIL KALLNECKER. 

